Thursday, June 11, 2015

I've been studying the paintings of the 19th century impressionists and the beautiful way in which they handled water and clouds. Water, like clouds, is something that is hard to paint from life, for the simple reason that both clouds and water are moving constantly.

The best we can do as artists is to try to paint the movement of water with some degree of passion and emotion, otherwise, the water has no movement and appears lifeless. The best we can do when painting clouds, is to try to portray their ethereal qualities with a light hand, as clouds have no borders. As Don Quixote said in Man of La Mancha, (though he wasn't speaking of clouds, but of the hem of Dulcinea's garment), they are like gossamer, sheer, gauze-like, yet having substance that changes constantly through varying times of day and light temperatures.

In this painting, my goal was to create that warm hazy light that we sometimes get on summer days, when the sun is trying to break through, but isn't quite there yet.

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Art Quote of the Month

“There are two kinds of artists, the emotional painter and the academician. The academician can paint into old age sitting on his stool licking his canvas until 98 years of age. The emotional artists burn himself up; he does not live long. The academician always creates something acceptable, boring, but acceptable. The emotional artist often misses, but when he hits, it is breathtakingly beautiful… touched by the gods!”

Sergei Bongart 1918-1985

RECENT NATIONAL SHOWS:

American Women Artists

I am very pleased to now be a Signature Member of this Wonderful Organization!

First Place!

Englewood Art Center- 11/2017

3rd Place

Third Place Award-Nov. 2017

3rd Place!

Visual Art Center, Nov.2017

First Place and Gallery Choice Award!

SRQ Painters-June 2015

Pas de trois

"Pas de Trois" was juried into the American Women Artists 16th annual national juried show

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About Me

Once upon a time I danced. As the Artistic Director of a very successful regional ballet company, I once directed dozens of dancers through scores of musical steps and lovely choreographed ballet performances. Today, I perform a very different kind of adagio as I direct dozens of tubes of paint and brushes and a jar of mucky turpentine through the steps required to create that very special painting that will hopefully touch someone in a special way. This blog records a history of my struggles as an emerging artist that took a road less traveled to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a visual artist. Welcome friends, to my daily Paint Dance.***All art, poems and writings on this blog are copyright of the author/artist and may not be used or reproduced in any form without express WRITTEN permission from this blog's author.***